Tips for a Longer Range and Better Ride Experience for Electric Bikes

An electric bike has many advantages over a gas-powered bike. In addition to being quiet, they don't produce pollutants. Also, they have an impressive range, allowing you to travel farther with less effort (and sweat!). But no matter how advanced your electric bike is, it won’t do you much good if you can’t get anywhere because of its limited range. Here are seven tips to help you make the most of your electric bike and make sure your ride doesn't end before you want it to! 

1) Choose the Right Battery: 

It can be overwhelming to choose a battery. You have many choices depending on how much weight you want to carry, how far you need to travel, or how often you plan to use your electric bike. Consider lithium-ion (or LiFePO4), nickel-cadmium (NiCd), or lead-acid batteries. Lithium-ion batteries generally have a longer range than NiCd batteries, but they are also more expensive. Compared to other types of batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries have a shorter lifespan and are heavier. In general, lead-acid batteries are cheap, but they require regular maintenance. Batteries that are too small may not fit in your frame's battery rack if it's designed for smaller batteries. E-bikes with removable batteries are probably the best option, as you can swap them out when they run out of power as long as you don't mind carrying extra weight when they aren't in use.

2) Improve Your Riding Style:

Riding an electric bike is like riding any other bike, only better. But before you start, you need to figure out what kind of rider you are. Do you tend to ride fast or slow? Are you good at going uphill? Knowing these things can help improve your efficiency with your e-bike. It’s also important to understand how many hills or flats your route has so that you don’t get too tired halfway through. If you want to extend your range, try pedaling up those hills! If you have trouble climbing them, use your motor as much as possible. You may find that it makes sense to only pedal when using smaller assist levels (i.e., setting 3). This way, you preserve some battery power for later on in case it gets really hilly toward the end of your trip. Another tip: if you have a water bottle cage on your frame, fill it up with water! Riding with water in your bottle will keep you cooler and more comfortable. Also, consider adding fenders to keep yourself clean from road spray. They won’t add much weight, but they will make your commute more pleasant.

3) Optimize Your Gearing:

One way to make your ride more efficient is to optimize your gearing. Depending on the terrain, you’ll want to be in a different gear. For example, if you’re going up a hill, you’ll want to be in a lower gear so that you can pedal more slowly and have more torque. If you’re simply cruising along, try using a higher gear so you can cruise at higher speeds. Using the right tailoring in your gears will help conserve battery power, too, as pedaling more slowly will use less energy than pedaling quickly.

4) Observe Your Behavior On Electric Bikes:

What kind of bike are you riding? How far do you go in one day? Do you take breaks often? What time of day do you ride? Riding an electric bike is different than regular cycling. Think about your behavior on electric bikes to help identify why the extra charge is ending up as lost range. If you experience an electric bike, you may be wasting energy just because you’re having so much fun on an electric bike. You might not even realize how much energy you’re using until! The battery is low, and you’re stuck pushing the bike home. To get the most range, try to be more conscious of your energy usage. If you constantly go up hills or accelerate quickly, try to take it easy on the throttle. You might also want to avoid using too much assistance when riding into a headwind. All these small changes will add up and help extend your range.

5) Use The Regenerative Braking Feature:

If your electric bike has a regenerative braking feature, make sure to use it! This feature helps recharge the battery while you’re riding, giving you a few extra miles of range. To use it, simply apply pressure to the brake levers and let the bike do the rest! If your e-bike doesn’t have this feature, it may be worth looking for one that does.

6) Purchase Or Build A Battery Charger:

One way to extend your range is to purchase or build a battery charger for yourself. This charger will employ the same principles you saw in regenerative braking but with much bigger gains. Basically, you will use the extra energy from braking to charge up your batteries while riding. When they do run out of energy, you can take advantage of that stored power and keep going strong! As a bonus, this method also makes your e-bike more environmentally friendly since you won’t need to buy new batteries as often, and you’re not wasting the energy you generate.

7) Harness The Power Of Wind And Sun:

Make your range last even longer by using wind and solar energy if the weather is nice. A small solar panel or charger can be used while riding, or you can simply set up a few panels on your patio. The sun is an excellent source of free energy. Try putting up some extra panels if you have access to a bike rack at work. Using wind power is about as simple as installing large blades on your e-bike and letting them recharge the battery while you're riding! However, don't expect perfect weather every day. There will be days when the weather isn't cooperative or when you just can't seem to get enough range. Take it easy on those days and give yourself a break. When the conditions are right again, your e-bike will be waiting for you.

Conclusion

For good reason, electric bikes are becoming more and more popular. Cycling is a great way to get around town without breaking a sweat, and it can help you stay healthy and active. We hope our tips have helped you learn how to get the most out of your electric bike. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or need advice on which electric bike is best for you. We love helping people find their perfect ride! Thank you for reading!